Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;astro time&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Astro Time,’ having several rows of cream green, tubular rayflorets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Astro Time’.

[0002] ‘Astro Time’, identified as AST1 originated from a cross made byMark Boeder in a constrolled breeding program at Chichester, WestSussex, United Kingdom. The female parent of the new variety is anundistributed, unpatented seedling identified as 95283 and the maleparent is an undistributed, unpatented seedling identified as 95223. Thenew variety ‘Astro Time’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetativecuttings at Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom and thedistinguishing characteristics are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] ‘Astro Time’ is a pot type of Chrysanthemum plant variety havingquilled, decorative-type flowers and a cream green flower color.

[0004] Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Astro Time’ are similarto the female parent ‘95283’ in flower type. In side-by-side comparisonsat Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice,plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Astro Time’ differed fromplants of the female parent ‘95283’ in the following characteristics.

[0005] 1. The new variety ‘Astro Time’ produces cream green flowerswhereas the female parent ‘95283’ produces white flowers.

[0006] 2. Plants of the new variety ‘Astro Time’ have larger flowersthan plants of the female parent ‘95283’.

Comparison with Other Varieties

[0007] Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Astro Time’ are similarto the unpatented cultivar ‘Ice Time’ in plant habitat and growth rate.However, in side-by-side comparisons at Chichester, West Sussex, UnitedKingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemumvariety ‘Astro Time’ differed from plants of the cultivar ‘Ice Time’ inthe following characteristics.

[0008] 1. The new variety ‘Astro Time’ produces cream green flowerswhereas the cultivar ‘Ice Time’ produces pure white flowers.

[0009] 2. Plants of the new variety ‘Astro Time’ have quilled petals andplants of the cultivar ‘Ice Time’ have spoon shaped rayflorets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

[0010] Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the newChrysanthemum variety ‘Astro Time’ are shown in the accompanyingphotograph. The colors shown are as true as possible within the usuallimits of this kind of illustration. FIGURE 1 is a whole plant view ofthe new variety ‘Astro Time’ grown in a pot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0011] The following description of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘AstroTime’ is of plants grown in a greenhouse at Chichester, West Sussex,United Kingdom in the month of December. The cultivar has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype mayvary significantly with variations in the environment such astemperature, length of day and light intensity, without any variance ingenotype. The commercial classification of the new variety is a potChrysanthemum.

[0012] Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully undertemperature conditions averaging about 18° C. at night and about 18° C.to 24° C. during the day under light conditions of about 5,000 to 6,000foot candles. The plants respond well to the use of growth retardant,such as one B9 treatment at about 1 gram/liter. To produce a commercialproduct the plants may be pinched once. The typical container size forcommercial growth is 1 liter. It has been observed that the shelf lifeof the new variety is about 20 days with a response time of about 7.5weeks.

[0013] The new variety may be produced as a spray or disbudded potchrysanthemum. The fo Llowing description is with respect to a plantproduced as spray pot Chrysanthemum. In the description of this newChrysanthemum variety, color values have been taken from The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.).

Plant

[0014] Plant type: pot Chrysanthemum

[0015] Habit: upright

[0016] Height: 20-25 cm

[0017] Branching characteristics (describe): upright spreading

[0018] Length of Lateral Branches: 15-20 cm

[0019] Number of Breaks from Pinch: 3-5

[0020] Stem Color: near 139C

[0021] Response Time: 7.5 weeks

[0022] Vigor: short

[0023] Shelf Life: 18 days

[0024] Disease (susceptibility or resistance observed): no observationsGrowth retardant type and treatment: 1 application B9 (1 gram/liter)

[0025] Propagation:

[0026]Type.—vegetative propagation via stem cuttings

[0027]Time to rooting.—14 days with soil temperatures of 18° C.

[0028]Rooting habit.—After 7 Long Days (20 hrs light) first roots emergefrom root primordia. After 14 Long Days a complete root system isdeveloped.

[0029] Foliage Number of Leaves Per Lateral Branch: 10-16 Compound orsingle: single Arrangement of Leaves: alternate

[0030]Shape of Leaf.—typical 5 lobed, oblong.

[0031]Size of Leaf.—Width (cm): 2.0-4.5 Length (cm): 4.0-8.0 cm.

[0032]Leaf Apex.—mucronate.

[0033]Base.—cordate.

[0034]Attachment.—petioled.

[0035]Aspect.—slight undulating.

[0036]Margin.—palmately lobed.

[0037] Surface characteristics: Top: pubescent Bottom: pubescent

[0038] Petiole:

[0039]Color.—near 139A.

[0040]Length.—1.0-2.0 cm Venation (describe): prominent midvein.

[0041]Color.—upper side: near 138B under side: near 138C.

[0042] Color:

[0043]Mature Leaf, upper side.—near 139A; under side: near 137B.

[0044]Young Leaf, upper side.—near 137A; under side: near 137C.

Flower

[0045] Flower appearance: many rows of quilled ray florets and severalrows of tubular florets

[0046] Flower type: semi-decorative

[0047] Number of blossoms per branch: 3-5

[0048] Inflorescence form.—cyme

[0049]Depth of fully expanded blossoms.—2.0-3.0 cm.

[0050]Diameter of fully expanded blossoms.—7.0-9.0 cm.

[0051] Sepals:

[0052]Number.—20-25 .

[0053]Color.—near 139B.

[0054]Length.—0.5-0.8 cm.

[0055]Width.—0.1-0.4 cm.

[0056]Texture/Appearance.—pubescent.

[0057] Peduncle: more or less even in length: longest length is onaverage 3.0-4.0 cm, shortest length is on average 1.0-3.0 cm

[0058]Length.—1.0-4.0 cm.

[0059]Color.—near 138B.

[0060]Surface.—pubescent.

[0061]Habit.—slight undulating.

[0062]Strength.—medium.

[0063] Pedicel:

[0064]Length.—terminal: 13.0-14.0 cm; lateral 11.0-13.0 cm.

[0065]Color.—near 138B.

[0066]Surface.—pubescent.

[0067] Habit: slight undulating.—

[0068]Strength.—medium.

[0069] Ray Florets:

[0070]Form/Shape.—quilled.

[0071]Texture/Appearance.—matte.

[0072]Number per flower.—250-300 .

[0073]Length.—0.6-3.9 cm Width: 0.1-0.4 cm.

[0074]Apex.—dentated.

[0075]Base.—tubular.

[0076]Margin.—entire.

[0077] Disc Florets:

[0078]Form/Shape.—tubular.

[0079]Texture/Appearance.—matte.

[0080]Number per flower.—0-50 .

[0081]Length.—0.1-0.4 cm; Width 0.05-0.1 cm.

[0082]Diameter of disc: 0.0-0.4 cm.

[0083] Fragrance: faint

[0084]Flower bud (at onset of color).—

[0085]Length.—0.5-0.7 cm

[0086]Diameter.—0.7-1.0 cm

[0087]Form/shape.—spherical

[0088] General Flower Color:

[0089] 1. Ray florets, upper side.—Immature: near145C Mature: near 157AOlder/Fading: near 157C.

[0090] 2. Ray florets, under side.—Immature: near 145C Mature: near 157AOlder/Fading: near 157C.

[0091] 3. Disc florets.—Immature: near 138A Mature: near 13BOlder/Fading: near 13C.

[0092] 4. Bud.—near 150A.

[0093] Flower progression with age: Flower color fades from green viawhite-green to white with age.

Reproductive Organs

[0094] Ray Florets: Pistillate

[0095]Pistil Number.—about 5.

[0096]Stigma color.—near 6B

[0097]Stigma shape.—fork

[0098]Style Color.—near 142C.

[0099]Style Length.—0.05-0.3 cm

[0100] Disc Florets: Pistillate

[0101]Pistil Number.—about 5

[0102]Stigma color.—near 6B

[0103]Stigma shape.—fork

[0104]Style Color.—near 142C

[0105]Style Length.—0.05-0.2 cm

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemumplant, substantially as described and illustrated herein.